Could it be a three-peat? You bet.
For the first time in New Jersey online gambling history, revenue surpassed $30 million for three-straight months.
The NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement released March’s numbers, and NJ online casino operators reported a combined $39,134,380 in revenue.
Yes, it’s a new record. And an increase of 53 percent from the same period last year.
NJ online gambling recorded its previous best month ever back in January with a revenue of $33,594,391.
In total, Atlantic City online gambling operators exceeded $100 million for the year — $104,477,497, to be exact.
NJ online casino revenue in a nutshell
Here is a complete breakdown of each casino operator and its internet gaming revenue:
| Online Casino Licensee | 2019 March Revenue | 2018 March Revenue | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Borgata | $5,442,418 | $4,583,234 | 18.7% |
| Caesars | $5,135,793 | $4,412,034 | 34.1% |
| Golden Nugget | $14,227,820 | $8,655,240 | 64.4% |
| Hard Rock | $1,630,845 | -- | -- |
| Ocean Resort | $497,541 | -- | -- |
| Resorts | $8,472,091 | $4,234,904 | 100.1% |
| Tropicana | $3,727,872 | $3,694,798 | 0.9% |
Golden Nugget sets new record
One of New Jersey’s smaller land-based casinos continues to blow away the NJ online gambling field. And it’s happening in record-breaking fashion.
Golden Nugget generated $14,227,820 in revenue in March. This tops the previous high of $12,180,039 recorded in January.
And it signifies a whopping 64.4 percent increase from the same period last year.
One thing to note: Betfair Casino (now FanDuel Casino NJ) and the popular FanDuel Sportsbook are doing some cross promoting and marketing of their products, which could be a significant factor in achieving this new high.
Betfair operates under the Golden Nugget license. FanDuel falls under the Meadowlands Racetrack land-based partnership. But both brands are owned by Paddy Power Betfair and share a common wallet.
In any case, Golden Nugget continues to hold its own, but another casino licensee is gaining steam.
Resorts building momentum
Resorts is another casino reaping the rewards of having a strong NJ gambling site portfolio.
Atlantic City’s oldest gambling property enjoyed the largest year-to-year percentage increase once again. And it’s to the tune of an eye-opening 100.1 percent.
Resorts Digital — the company’s online arm — pulled away from the rest of the pack with $8,472,091.
The DGE does not offer a breakdown on each brand’s performance, but Resorts is likely benefiting from cross-selling, too.
Resorts Digital led the AC sports betting pack with $7,278,126. This includes:
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- BetStars NJ
- Resorts
DraftKings online casino is integrated with the sportsbook app. BetStars is linked with the PokerStars NJ casino and poker app. And the Resorts mobile casino and sportsbook operate on the same platform.
Customers are likely taking advantage of the promotions and the ease of having casino gambling and sports betting linked together. It’s sort of like being on a casino floor without leaving home.
Couple this with DraftKings Sportsbook’s first-to-market edge and large customer base and you have the makings for growth.
Borgata and Caesars record strong months, too
Two other operators saw double-digit increases in March, crossing the $5-million mark.
Borgata, Atlantic City’s top-performing casino, finished third with $5,442,418 in revenue.
Caesars Interactive NJ (which houses both the Caesars app and 888 Casino) finished the month with $5,135,793.
Tropicana, meanwhile, finished the month relatively flat with $3,727,872.
Hard Rock Online Casino, which is integrated with its mobile sportsbook, also remained relatively flat with a reported $1,630,845. The platform powered by Gaming Innovation Group, is still establishing itself in the market.
Ocean Casino front and center
Ocean Casino Resort is once again buried at the bottom of the monthly revenue chart.
But the $497,541 is a slight improvement from February.
But the bigger news coming out of one of Atlantic City’s newer properties is a name change. Well, at least a reversal in focus.
Time to unveil a tide of changes! 🌊 After rolling out a new marketing campaign, Ocean is making several improvements beginning with a shift in focus. We are a casino first. To reflect this, we are kicking it off with a new name—Ocean Resort Casino is now Ocean Casino Resort! pic.twitter.com/awPB6uM6tM
— Ocean Casino Resort (@TheOceanAC) April 10, 2019
But what does this new “casino first” mean for Ocean Online Casino?
More details are likely to be announced once Luxor Capital Group takes over ownership of the property. The New York-based hedge fund was revealed as the mysterious new owner in January.
As it is, Ocean Casino’s online presence remains minimal in comparison to the rest of the pack.
The NJ online sports betting connection
While NJ online sports betting continues to garner headlines, the 13 sportsbook apps currently available in New Jersey are all in some way linked to a casino site.
So combined, online gambling in March reached $70 million in revenue. That number in and of itself is something to note.
Think about that for a moment, GN posted a $14m month, and the industry was a tick under $40m. In March 2016, online casino revenue was $13m INDUSTRY-WIDE. It's hard to wrap one's head around the impact online sports has had. 2/2
— Steve Ruddock (@SteveRuddock) April 12, 2019
With several of the sports betting and online casino apps linked together, the positive trend north will likely continue.
Summer is still several weeks away, but NJ online casino revenue is looking hot, hot, hot.